Death's Pet Chapter One

The beast of torture, the creature of hate
The thing that rips away your fate,
It consumes all joy, it forces out such pain.
It makes young mothers go insane,
For fear of their children, shallow and weak,
For fear that the creature will rip open their meat.
Their fears are true the beast is quite real,
And never again will your wounds ever heal.
The living of hell; the manifestation of a nightmare
It'll pollute the pure; it'll kill without a care.



















Chapter One



She's gliding through the dark, all grace and cautious steps. She's a silent ghost slipping in and out of the shadows. The name she claims is Silence, but she is also known as Beau-Ombre (Beautiful Shadow)--but her born name is Alicia. Beautiful Shadow, that's all she is; a shadow long forgotten in the infinite stretch of time.
         Her long brown hair is tied back in a crimson ribbon, her small form clothed in all black-a touch of red here and there. Chains clank together quietly from around her slim hips.
         Her strides are elongate and calm as another shadow, much like her own, contemplates his prey. She is unaware of his eyes though she has a dangerous feeling that she's not alone.
         The crisp night air is soothing to her bruised body. Her father had beaten her the other day; the bruises pound with the numb feel of his brutal punches upon her skin and the feeling of fear swims in her blood. Her beautiful green eyes are cold, her mouth set in a line. She has no sign of happiness but she is normally a very happy girl.
         She is beaten whenever her dad becomes infuriated with her but she is still always the first one to laugh at a joke or smile at a cute boy. She is normal just not treated normal.
         Brushing her brown hair away from her pixie like face her thoughts become slightly clearer then become obscured again from the alcohol she'd drank.
         Pulling her jean jacket tightly around her body she looks up at the moon with a smooth, swift smile. It is nearly full, tomorrow being the full moon.
         Tomorrow, the night werewolves and vampires come out to play. Silence smiles slightly, looking over her shoulder. Her smile turns colder and her eyes shine with resentment at the thought of her cousin rating her out for being younger than eighteen in the bar.
         Stupid bitch, that bartender was cute! But no, that whore had to have him! She's probably screwing him right now, the whore. Better hope he doesn't get her herpes. Smirking viciously, she then glances at the ground; Silence grimaces as she sees some disgusting red liquid on the cracked cement under her feet.
         Making a face Silence looks up. Her eyes strain to find something abnormal in the darkness even though she knows nothing is there...right? Her eyes peer harder and her steps become heavy, more like a crawl, and then stop altogether as she hears a high whining noise come from her left.
         It sounds like a plea, a creature of disaster and destruction whimpering and moaning for the warmth of someone's blood-her blood.
         Her feet feel like they are nailed to the floor as the whine gets closer and closer, begging like a wounded beast; a harmless animal that will try to befriend her and then rip her to shreds...
         Silence nearly jumps out of her skin as she hears a piercing blare of a car horn and two lights flash on towards her right.
         "Get in." it is her brother Sean. His face is stern and emotionless as he looks fixedly at his little sister.  He is eighteen having started collage four months ago. Silence had begged for him to leave, afraid that her father would beat him to death, but he'd stayed.
         Silence looks over her shoulder quickly then flings her terror far behind her, slides the door open, and sits down on the worn fabric of the fake-leather chairs.
         Sean starts the engine as soon as Silence closes the door. The smooth sound of its purr makes Silence go tense with the thought of where the machine will take her.
         "Dad wants to see you." Silence can see the dark red mark crawling up his neck from a fresh beating, probably not an hour ago. Her head droops as she murmurs a simple "okay."
         Silence feels the giant truck swerve right towards the river instead of left towards her home where her father awaits.
         She flashes a glance at Sean curiously. Questions are mirrored in her green-almost gold-eyes as they seem to stare straight through him to his dark secrets.
         Ignoring her he stares ahead with his eyes filled with worry and weary of the sure fight that lies ahead. Silence looks forward and her eyes once again are caught by the beauty of the moon and she is left with awe; she wishes she could be as pure and beautiful as the moon. She wishes she could shed as much hopeful light as it.
         Sean's left hand molds around the black leather steering wheel while his right hand punches his collar bone anxiously-a nervous imitation of what their father does. Silence hears something rattle in the back seat but dismisses it as some junk from his friends.
         Again her eyes try to catch his but he refuses to acknowledge the fact that she's even there. She can easily read the set of his features; he is unsure and anxious, he looks almost afraid of what's going to happen which makes Silence nervous.
         "Bro, what's going on? Where are we going?" she can feel a dark chill crawling up her spine making her shoulders quake; she stiffens to stop from shivering and claws at her lips with her teeth to stop from whimpering.
         "I thought Dad-" he interrupts her quickly; cutting off the words he knew she'd speak as his hands tighten around the wheel. "He does."
         Silence stays hushed, letting her thoughts drift as the heavy truck continues to bounce on the gravel road. His purpose is obvious, dancing before her eyes and she gives a sigh of distress. Dad is going to kill him...
         Blowing a loose strand of hair out of her eyes she turns her attention to the ground on which they're traveling. Every tree they pass is a nearly black blur, every movement around her a numb acknowledgement that she isn't isolated but surrounded by beasts and animals.
         Sean's headlights are on full power but even so everything but the few feet the lights pierce are a dark void hovering around them; a lover whispering sweet nothings to its mate while its clawed fingers reach for a knife...
         Silence stares out into the darkness as mist clings to the windows in the chill of night making everything foggy and unclear.
         Listening to the quiet growl of the wheels rushing over the dirt and rocks she watches fog begin to appear in the once clear night sky like a horror movie.
         "What's going to happen to Mom?" her voice is soft and quiet, but still the words sting him as if she is accusing him of something he is innocent of.
         Gritting his teeth he ignores her, his knuckles turning white. Glancing at him she sighs before going into herself. Deep, deep in the safety of her mind she imagines a heaven on Earth.
         She'd created her "happy place" to lessen the ache of her father's brutal beatings that have begun to get rougher and more hateful as she grows older.
         She's sitting in a tree. The branch she's relaxing on dipping down low, nearly into the creek she's above. Her feet are barely touching the silvery snake that is the creek rolling over shimmering rocks and pebbles.
         Staring at her reflection there are no bruises hidden in fear beneath the shimmering white gown flowing from her slim figure.
         Everything seems to be alit from the creek. The creek is vivid with light as she gawks at her reflection. She looks strange, as if she's not from this planet. Her skin seems to be aglow, as ivory as a pearl as the light reflects from the deep grassy green depths of her eyes which are turning an almost gold in the rich brightness. The only imperfect mark upon her is the scar gracefully lining her jaw from when she was thirteen.
         Other than the light pink scar no mark from her horrid past with her abusive father exists in this Heaven she has created.
         Jumping off the branch her feet touch the water, but it's not water. It's glass.
         Silence's feet slide against the smooth surface of the glass curving to create waves swirling over the rocks that have become layers of metal shards. As she bends down and her knees touch the surface she folds her hands in her lap and smiles.
         The calmness of this strange, perfect little world flickers above and around her, teasing her with its brushing finger tips.
         Bending over to peer at her reflection she begins to change, some twisting of the features and a hollowing of the spirit. Blinking, Silence stares at her reflection before glancing up and a scream tears a path through her throat.
         Blood; blood and drool.
         Then she's falling, the glass having developed past its solid or even liquid form into...nothing. It simply disappears from beneath her and she is falling, falling into nothingness so complete that her scream of terror can't even escape her lips.
         The metal shards are falling around her as well, slicing and cutting into her body, pelting her like rain. Shredding her like paper. She tries to scream even harder but nothing will come out.
         Then with horror she realizes her lips are sewn shut and her eyes are gone, ripped out of her sockets. She has a vague image of a dull needle being shoved through her lips and a rusty spoon tearing out her loving green eyes...

         Jerking herself out of this trance she shudders then looks at Sean and lets out a relieved sigh at the realness of him. He ignores her sigh and continues driving, a cloud of tension hovering around his calm exterior.
         The truck rolls to a stop and Silence sighs, opening the door. "Wait, let me tell you something first." Sean says, catching her attention with the darker tone of his voice. Looking at him inquiringly she nods solemnly, tugging the door back in place.
         As the door locks into place Sean lets out a deep breath to try and calm himself. "Beau-Ombre, I've told you many times that you should've run away but you stupidly stayed. Because of that you have that scar on your face." instinctively Silence's fingers caress her face, tracing the small pink mark.
         Sean watches her for a moment before continuing.
         "So, after Dad gave you that, I saved all my money and used it to build a house here. Well... fix it up anyway." he motions at the trees for emphasis, not hesitating as if he's practiced saying this many times. "I used what was left of my collage money to buy food and what I thought you might need. You're going to live here."
         Silence instantaneously knows that he hadn't made a mistake saying "you're" instead of "we're."
         "You're going back to mother to defend her." she makes it a statement, not a single doubt in her voice. Staring at him she watches him nod; her eyes cloud over with sorrow.
         "I have to." Nodding she breathes out, trying to soothe her increasing fear of being abandoned.
         "I'll show you where the house is, but you can't tell anyone else. I'll come here every morning and maybe stay here with you a few days but I have to take care of Mom, too. After I show you I'll go get your clothes and stuff and tell Mom and Dad you're staying the night at Cheyenne's."
         Looking at her brother doubtfully she advances out of the dark red truck and follows him through a path nearly hidden in weeds. His black hair seems grey as the fog makes his form blurry and paler. "They're not going to fall for that but for three days and you know it."
         Sean nods hasting over a mouse with its entrails ripped out, a wretched stench rising from its rotting flesh. Silence makes a face, cantering over the repugnant mound of fur and flesh. An outstretched paw crunches under her shoe and she shudders.
         "That's why I'm going to tell them you ran away." she lets out an exasperated breath. "That's going to infuriate Dad! He's going to beat the shit out of Mom! He might even kill her!"
         Not responding he lets her simmer down as she considers his reasoning. Finally he speaks, his words soft, but angry at the accusation. "I love Mom just as much as you, but she put this on herself. She married him; she's made it through fifteen years of his beatings, if she had been smart she would have left him already."
         Silence is chafed but composes herself and forces herself to keep a straight face but her words are reserved and damnable. "She tried to leave him once; you know that. He nearly killed her, he tried to murder her! What, do you want her to get killed just to satisfy you?"
         Not replying she hears the metallic hum of tumblers clicking and clacking against each other. She hadn't noticed the cabin in front of her, the thick fog nearly blinding her.
         The door slides open with ease when Sean nudges it before turning to her, brushing off Silence's cruel words. Handing her a silver skeleton key he smirks at her.
         "I thought you might like it if it was... unique." her smile is faint and crooked but it's still beautiful and heartwarming to see her smile. Sean's eyes lighten and smile in love for his little sister.
         Silence looks in the house then turns around as she notices Sean walking away. He smiles over his shoulder and waves.
         "I'll be back before you know it, Sis." Silence nods, waiting until his figure fads into the fog, then turns and searches for a light switch in the deep shadows of night inside the cabin. Finally, finding it, she switches it on.
         The light leaves her vision a little foggy at first but her eyes accustom to the light quickly and she smiles slightly when she sees the room.
         The walls are a shining wood and, after she closes the wood door with the glass window in it, she admires all the hard work put into building the house. It's slightly bleak without the touch of decorations, but Silence is going to change that.
         There's a humble TV that had been in Sean's room before it "broke" and he got rid of it. He had been planning this for over two years, from the looks of it, because most of the furniture in the enclosure had somehow "broken" and then he'd taken them here from over two years back.
         Noticing another door in the back she walks toward it, only a few of the floor boards creaking under her light weight. Unlocking the door with the skeleton key she slides past the door noiselessly. As she turns the light switch on and sees her room her eyes go wide.
         Her walls are wood fashionably and wildly splattered with paint and graffiti, her brother's doing. The most noticeable is METALLIQUE DIULEUR in bold letters, the black paint used to scribble it splattered around it. Her bed, in the right hand corner, frame a glistening metal frame with barbed wire meshed into the jail like bars on the back holding stable silk roses reflects the moon's rays. The rays climb through the window's glass purposely smeared with white paint around the edges to create an everlasting mist edge. Next to her bed is a plain bar stool, fake copper vines crawling up the legs. The bar stool holds as many as five candles on it, all unlit. On the other side of the room is a wood desk with a book of spells plopped open.
         Her eyes almost skip over the black rug but then the fake blood splatter catches her eyes and she grins. Everything is perfect, how she's always wanted her room to be.
         Silence can only say three words: "Oh my god..."
         Squealing she lunges for the bed in the corner, brushing past the black, white, and red ribbons that drape around it. "This is fucking awesome!" She screams, tangling herself in the black silk sheets.
         Laughing she perks up as she becomes aware of the noise of the door opening. "Sean this room is freaking awesome! Thanks!" When she hears no reply she hunkers up. "Bro, why are you so quiet?"
         Getting up and walking over to the door, she gently pushes it open, peering into the room. Someone is standing at the door their white hair shimmering in the moon light, someone that isn't Sean.
         "Who are you...?" Her voice is strong, not abundant with fear or quivering as most girls' voices would've. Staring at the form so obviously a boy standing in the door way, she suddenly sees headlights and only gets a small glimpse of the boys glowering red eyes before he disappears.
         As Sean walks through the door swinging ajar he looks at Silence crossly. "Too lazy to close the-"
         "Did you see him?" Her voice has a strange tint of controlled fear to it.
         "See who?" He asks his brows furrowing in confusion.
         "That boy, you didn't see him? He was right there, at the door." She's staring at him; she can't believe he hadn't seen the creepy looking person. Person, what makes you think it's human? Silence stiffens at the bite of the thought's bitter words.
         Sean gives her a cross look. "Silence, I built this house -well, fixed it up- for almost a year. I was in this forest all day; I'm use to it. You can't scare me by saying some boy is in the woods when there is no boy. Besides, from the looks of it, you're just scaring yourself." Silence combs her hand through her luxurious mane and sighs in exasperation. "He was there, I know it."
         Scoffing Sean grabs her arm and leads her towards her room she had been gleefully playing in not a moment before. "You're just worried...or maybe Dad hit you too hard in the head." He laughs playfully tousling her hair. She glares daggers at him before spitting out, "Stop treating me like a child!"
         He grins, mocking her. "Stop acting like one."
         Growling she yanks her army bag out of his hand; Sean follows suit and throws her belongings on the floor.
         "You should be thanking me, not yelling at me." Silence watches her suitcase clatter to the floor; the cheap lock on it breaks off as it is thrown, all of her possessions scattering on the wood floor.
         Stepping into the room, the shadows deepening where the light can't reach and the walls painted in elegant designs with her favorite posters she feels so detached and disheartened. She glances at her favorite poster of a vampire bathed in light with a crown of thorns placed so carelessly on her blonde waves; Victoria Frances's work, no doubt.
         Sighing she looks up at her older brother, her young face sad. "I know... I'm just...afraid." Sean smiles but inside he is completely shocked. Silence, his sister, the one that never cries when her father beats her or cries for anything has tears pooling in the honey glazed emeralds that are her eyes.
         The beads of undeniable fear are tiny symbols of weakness but the fact is that they are real and they are there.
         "Something is going to happen...something bad." Biting her lip tears stream down her cheeks but she barely acknowledges them.
         "Sean something bad is going to happen here!"
         Smiling soothingly he tries to cover up his unease at seeing the strongest, toughest girl he's ever known cry. He hasn't seen her cry in over six years. Sitting on the bed he tries to hug her only to get rejected.
         Curling into a ball Silence scrutinizes at the wall blankly. Watching her he stands up, feeling rejection and irritation he leaves her, closing the door and switching off the light.
         The darkness swallowing her in its warm embrace, Silence curls into a tighter ball, before her arms go slack. "He didn't believe me..." She shivers with more than the chill of night as she gazes out the window at the nearly full moon.
         "We're going to die." The words sound almost like a prayer but they are the bitter truth and she knows it. Her instincts are never wrong and right now they tell of intolerable pain and death.
         Uncurling herself her eyes are now dry and are nothing but two shimmering amber-green stones in the moon light; no feelings shine their dark depths anymore.
         Leaning against the window seal she watches the grass waver. She can see two Rubies', tiny pebbles in the dark graveyard the forest resembles. But she knows that they're the same two eyes that she'd seen earlier; that Sean fools himself to be her imagination again. Silence knows it's real, though.
         She knows it without a doubt. Real or not, it doesn't matter. They are destined to die at some time. This creature, the creature with the red eyes, is just going to make it come sooner. Doesn't matter to Silence whether she dies or not; she just doesn't want Sean to. He has a life, a fiancé, everything; she has nothing. It doesn't matter if she dies, but Sean has a life worth living!

Silence's eyes fix on the silent rays of light that pierce her room in an angry glare, the lights entering where they're not welcomed. With her eyes squinted against the bright light that gleams across her strange little objects she glares at nothing, furious with the fact that there is nothing to be angry at. Shadows flicker and dance incoherently across her face, making her look haggard and tired. But in reality she is wide awake and impassive; just thoughtful and angry.
         Days have past since she's moved here, at least that's what Sean tells her, but it feels much longer, weeks at the least! Sean tells her that Mom's better but misses her beloved daughter horribly.
         Whatever, she's happy and we all know it!
         She doesn't know how long she has been gone; a day, a week, a month, it doesn't matter. Time has the same effect on all creatures.
         Death
         So why does it matter? She already knows she is going to die and around the time it will happen. A few weeks, is her guess. Maybe today for all she knows, but she'd be happier if it is today so Sean will be spared.
         The extension between knowing Death and actually going through it makes no difference to her, she just wishes for his precious life to be spared. Spared...not fucked up by my hell-raising dreams, or my imagination, or whatever it is.
         Sighing she tugs the gray hood of one of her favorite jackets up. Gliding across the rug Sean had stolen from her room, she seems to float across the living room-a sorrowful phantom haunting a death ridden room. Tipping the front door open she winces against the glare of the spring sun.
         Sean's at her old home, the raged brush where his truck is usually hidden empty. He's sneaking more of her stuff here, trying to make her more comfortable. Last time, he'd forgotten her rose that Cody, one of her closest friends, had made for her.
         Yes, he'd made a rose. It is made out of a real rose but he'd added mechanical objects to it, giving it all the food and nutrients it needs to live as long as Silence keeps it. Cody is an expert at mechanics, a very unique talent he has. He is a genius, making any scrap of metal an alluring machine.
         Staring at the divine trees glistening from last night's rain she then turns around and locks the door with the skeleton key. Letting the key then dangle from the silver chain bracelet Cody had also made for her three years ago, when they became best friends she smiles faintly. He has the same bracelet, still as new and as beautiful as when he'd crafted it.
         Sliding her feet against the grass, feeling the tickle of wet grass against her bare feet she smiles faintly. Then she notices the green snake staring at her, yellow eyes blank as it measures her, tiny tongue flicking in the air, tasting her scent.
         Standing completely still, seeming to be a woman frozen in time, she examines it.
         Arguing with her self whether it is venomous or not, she then dives for it. Grabbing it by its throat so it can't bite her, she grins. As it swings its tiny head towards her, jaw snapping in response to the rude girl; Silence smirks.
         Growling at the light green snake she laughs when it wriggles in panic. "I'm just kidding, little fellow. I'd never hurt your pretty little scales." she sooths petting the snake's head with a soft pat. Wincing as its fang sink into the side of her hand, ripping some of her flesh, Silence grits her teeth.
         "I probably deserved that." Placing it gently on a brush, watching it disappear in the grass, she lets her wounded hand drape by her side.
         Her lips twirling at the corners as she admires nature thoughtfully her eyes then swivel to the enclosing trees with such fierceness that even the wind seems to hesitate nearing her.
         "I know you're there." She speaks to the soft rustle of leaves and the hardly noticeable noise that's clearly not of the wind.
         Breath of Death, little girl, it's the Breath of Death.
         Shut up, and then the haunting voice is gone.
         Heading back towards the door she glares at the wood as she hears only the wind reply with a whispering sigh. The grass dances as the spotlights of the sun flicker through the leaves and warm their spirits.
         Silence stays still for a moment, letting her hands hang uselessly by her sides. "Stop pretending you're not there, I know you are. Besides, if you're going to stalk me, at least do a good job at it."
         Hearing a growl-like laugh, deep and immensely calm, she shoves the door open after unlocking it and slams it close. Leaning against the silky wood she digs her nail into the soft flesh on her palm.
         "Damn stalker."
Silence is scouring her trembling arms, gritting her teeth as she feels blood begin to bubble from her nails ripping up and down her arm rhythmically. Slamming her foot on the ground she curses impatiently. "Damn it, Sean!"
         Grating her teeth together she drags her nails down her raw flesh, flinching as she tears more of the bloody, stinging skin. She impales her shoulders with her nails and she pulverizes her back against the wall, hammering and pounding in uncontrollable spasms.
         She doesn't know what's wrong. Something, someone is coming and her body and mind are trying to stay under control and be calm about it while her instincts are going crazy. Why can't she run away? Why can't she do anything!
         Her muscles are stiff with anxiety and her eyes keep jumping around the room apprehensively. It's her instincts that are making her demented, the voices in her mind that are screeching and shrieking at her refusing to leave her be.
         Leave! Go now, before it's too late! The screech of terror and madness in her mind would've brought her to her knees had her body not been jerking in uncontrollable spasms. Why can't she stay still?
         "No!" She screams cringing as the voices become more violent with fear and rage at her stubbornness. But, she's not just being stubborn; she's not even able to restrict herself any more! Something else is controlling, something else is in authority now...
         Leave before you die! Before we all die! The fear is etched in the voice and obscene, terrifying images are rolling over and over in her mind; mixtures of her own fear and memories. The fear is like a blur now moving so fast that she can't even understand it anymore.
         Silence stumbles against the wall opposite of the front door, covering her ears in a desperate endeavor to shut off the voices; to shut off the terror they are making her feel.
         "Shut up!" She bawls trying to make her voice strong but failing miserably. Then, the voices go silent.
         We're too late... A soft voice admits in a hushed tone. Silence's head snaps up as she hears the click of a lock in a door. Her body is convulsing as she regards the shadow in front of her. Looking up from the shadow of the figure to see...

                                                 
It's an hour ago, right after Silence went inside. She's being lazy and murmuring into the empty house about her mom and best friends. She misses them, as you would expect.
         She's sprawled across the couch in the middle of the room facing the small, blank screen of the T.V. Her arm was shading her eyes from both the fluttering sunlight and the eyes watching her feverishly.
         The bandages wrapped around her injured hand looked cool to Silence so she'd done it to her other hand, leaving her fingers uncovered on both. Feeling her hand sting slightly as she brushed her tangled hair out of her face she had shrunk.
         The black Mp3nano on the side table near her head was on and one of her most hated songs she's ever heard is just ending. Cheering as it ended, she then smirked as "Face Down" began to play.
         Standing up and grabbing Sean's black electric guitar she plucks the strings professionally. She, Cody, and Kelsey (known as Target to her friends) have their own little band and she is the guitarist and a side singer. She can be the lead singer, but she can't stand being the lead singer with all those eyes staring at her... Just the thought of it made her shudder.
         Just before the song ended, however, her mouth contracted and her eyes blanked out as the guitar slips from her hands; the song had begun the never ending horror to come starting with it.
Staring at the girl standing in the doorway Silence feels as if her world has fallen apart, the pieces crumbling before her eyes. For, in the doorway, light spilling about her, is her. At least a girl that looks exactly like her, from what she can see. Her features are blocked, her shape a dark form removing all but the most obvious features such as her hair and eyes.
         She looks like Silence...except...her eyes.
         The girl's eyes have a sunken, lurid look deep within them. They look as if the girl is desperate for release. Release of... something. Silence doesn't know what it is, but the girl does. That's what Silence is for.
         Release the demon, Silence. Release it, beg her to kill you. Why not let her kill you? She's family; it'll be out of love. Silence shudders involuntarily at the thought of this girl being anything close to related to her.
         Silence gawps at her in stunned silence, her words seeming to be obscured by the sudden fear she feels in the girl's presence. She looks like her reverberation only darker emotions reflected off the girl's face.
         Something is wrong with this girl, this twin. Silence can feel it, it's as easy to feel as her own heart beat pounding against her rib cage as she feels cut off from the world. For some reason Silence feels as if this girl isn't from this world. As if she can't be from any world but Hell...
         Silence's twin giggles her eye color lightening to a pale green as she covers her mouth to try and muffle her laughter.
         "Why are you staring at me?" She asks softly, her soft childish voice rising as she giggles again; Silence is reminding of Jessica, an evil bitch that goes to her school and is nothing but popularity and evil.
         The demon-girl's eyes suddenly turn sharp and her laugh seems colder. "You act surprised to see me," Her eyes narrow and she smiles wickedly.
         "Sister"

Sean smiles at his mom, keeping the smile in place even as he notices the large, multicolored bruise discoloring her collar bone all the way around her collarbone; dangerously close to her throat. It's obviously a hand print, as if his father had tried to choke her. Of course, he had.
         Reaching out to open his sister's room she hesitates then pushes the door open; it creaks softly on its hinges. "I can't believe she ran away." She says quietly, her voice barely audible above her husband's drunken shouts as he throws another fit.
         Sighing and shaking her head, she gives him a small, sad smile; her nearly black hair hanging around her pale face. "Actually, I can believe it." She sighs again letting her sorrow drift away as she suddenly smiles and grabs him in a tight, protective hug. "I'm so glad you're okay!" Laughing, hiding his anger as she cringes as he softly pats an unseen bruise on her back, he shakes his head. You're the one I should be worrying about.
         Rubbing her back, having to bend down to hug his frail looking mom, he smiles again. Letting his ease go slack he lets his smile widen. "Mom, how could I possibly get hurt?" Her childish laugh dies away and she gives him a stern look.
         "You know you're father. I was afraid that as you came in he might..." She let out a deep breath and Sean stops her from saying more. She feels bad enough about having to put her children through this; she doesn't have to feel any worse.
         "Mommy, why is Daddy yelling again?" Sean hears his young brother Raider pry into, hiding behind his door; the white paint peeling off in shriveling waves of the failure to win over age.
         "Oh, he's just mad about..." She glances at her eldest son uneasily then smiles at Raider. "Oh, he's just mad, that's all. Now stay in your room, we wouldn't want-" She stops her self abruptly again and Sean's eyes hollow out all warmth.
         "We wouldn't want the Old Man to beat you again." He finishes coldly, his eyes razor sharp as he glares downstairs where his father is bucking chairs and plates at the wall.
         His father is so pathetic; he has to beat both a young fourteen-year-old-girl and a five-year-old-boy to make him self happy. With Silence he's tries so much more, but, luckily, her mother would come to the rescue. That's how she got pregnant with Raider. Either Silence would've been raped or her mother would've.
                                                  
Sean peeks at his mirror watching his house evaporate from view. Bags of Silence's stuff jolt in the back as he screeches to a stop, some bastards having nearly collided with him. Sean grits his teeth and screams curses at the laughing teens and blasts his horn at them.
         He has the full mind to chase after them and beat them but he just relaxes his temper and continues cruising on the black tar. Feeling as if he's being choked with concern and agitation he turns on the radio and listens to "High School Never Ends."
         Singing along he takes a sip of his beer. He's not a drunk, not like his father, but he favors beer as much as any man.
         Tasting the bitter liquid he frowns over the wheel, gently turning the wheel leftwards. Momentarily he wonders how many times he will have to turn right instead of left; hell instead of home. This thought makes his lips twitch, both in a smile and a scowl.
         Suddenly, as Sean's about to take another sip of his beer, something ambles in the street. Stomping on his brake Sean hollers as his head smacks the steering wheel with a painful blow. Screaming curses he wipes the blood off his forehead and out of his eyes. It's not a very crucial wound but the blood flow refuses to cease.
         Growling he slams the door open and glares at the tree at the front of his truck smashing the engine, the tree somehow still standing though it looks to be rotten through and through. Screaming in fury he smashes the beer bottle on the tree watching the yellow liquid soak the tree, making it look soggy and even more desperate for life.
         Punching the truck's door in blood of a bitch Sean hisses as his skin breaks and his knuckles bleed.
         "Damn freaking brats!" He places his head against the scratchy bark of the rotten tree and lays his now wounded hand on the trucks cold metal and calms his breathing. "Just need to calm down. It's just a little scratch."
         Glancing up at his truck he cringes as he knows his father will beat him for such "disrespect to the money he'd given him" as his mother will try and say to make him not loath his father; a little too late for that.
         Breathing out, letting his anger seep out of him with his energy he then yanks the door to the back seat open, having to wrench it open; the crash smashed the door in. He rips Silence's backpack out of the truck and slings it over his shoulder.
         Hearing the metallic rattle of the clever rose Cody had made for Silence as a gift he smirks. He knows Cody is in love with his little sister. He can see the way the boy looks at her when she isn't paying attention. Poor boy, all Silence sees him as is a friend. A really close one; Sean grins again.
         Kicking a few rocks he stumbles across the dirt, heading not-too gracefully towards his little sister and her new found home.
         Sean smiles slightly when the average home comes into his view. The beauty and normality of the building is Heaven to him and he can see his sister's form through the window. His smile widens slightly and he obliterates away the wetness of blood from his forehead. He grimaces as the sweat on his finger tips brush against the wound.
         Though the drumming in his head is a nuisance he tunes it out with the thought of serenity with his little sister. Besides, the pain is tolerable if he doesn't move violently.
         Slowing his steps as dizziness swims over him, his legs start to tremble and he balances himself against a wicked looking tree. Waiting until he can think straight, he shuffles towards the welcoming enclosure he is so ready to call home.
         Turning the corner his lips turn downwards creating an angled frown seeing the door swinging agape.
         Stupid, Sister, stupid, stupid, stupid; sooner or later some one's going to have to teach you to close the damn door. Thinking this he fails to notice the deathly silence in the dark home or the faint smudges of brilliant red against the listless wood of the door.
         Finally, standing before the door, tear drops of blood leading a faint trail to an oh-so familiar person Sean finally catches the stench of terror drifting upon the arid wind.
         "Alicia..." The word is almost like a child's prayer they practice and beg for at night as he is struck with ripping claws. His right eye is nearly sliced open, his cheeks resorted to a measly flap of skin slapping against his pearly bone. Fangs tear at his tender flesh around his throat and his bones give way to hard brutal stokes of those razor sharp claws. The last sight he will ever see is a beast shoving him backwards, his right ankle breaking instantly under the massive weight, and then the demon-creature ripping out his entrails and feasting upon them. Looking up in the few seconds left of his life he gives Silence's tear stained face a grimacing smile. Screams echo in his ears-his own-but all he can hear is his little sister's sobs.
Even love can die; can be reduced to nothing but dust. Expect no mercy of the pain it will give you, mercy is simply a gift we never receive. Hopes and dreams of mercy are pathetic; dreams are deplorable lies held captive in our minds. So why hope and dream when they never come true?
         An agonized scream is torn from her lips as sorrow holds her in its icy embrace. The only person that had dared to protect her is thrown to the ground with the painful snapping of bones. Blood splatters around him-his jugular vein she thinks without knowing exactly what it means at the moment-raining down as his killer disappears completely.
         A ring of blood surrounds the ghost of her past in an almost graceful fashion. Time seems to freeze with the great amounts of her desperation. Nothing is real anymore, nothing but the love that had been in his now dead eyes. She can only stare in awe at the pain she can read in her reflection in his eyes. The girl in his beautiful, loving eyes doesn't look like her, who is she?
         Everything is bone-charring real; every detail sharp, jumping at her vision, burning the whole horrific scene in her mind. Her brother's eyes contemplate her with a soft, caring look making it all the more painful as his heart slows before freezing altogether. Death seems to rejoice in her pain as he caresses Sean's young body, the hollow eyes filled with hunger.
         God, where are you? How could you let Sean die? Why? He did nothing wrong! He believed in you...yet, you...you let him die? You're a fake! A FAKE!She's near hysterical in her sorrow.
         The girl where hate smolders out anything of brightness laughs in delight as she brushes past the phantom that only Silence can see. Slinking towards Sean's bloody carcass she reaches for him with a soft giggle. A sick twisted need gleams in her glowering eyes as a cold smile plays at her mouth.
         "Stay away from him!" Silence's voice is a loud screech of pain in the torturing silence that floats about them. Silence barely understands the words even as she speaks them. The only thing she understands anymore is the fact that her beloved brother is dead. Dead "You killed him you she-bitch!"
         Her clone's disastrous glare turns on her and she reaches for Silence with a shrill whining scream of lust; blood lust. Silence is nearly blind with the prickling terror that fills her aching body with the ability to run.
         This is the truth of her nightmare. Her vision has come true.
         Sean, you bastard! I told you! I begged and begged but all you could think was that I was crazy. Look at you now, you're dead. Tears fall from her eyes and a mournful cry escapes her lips as she turns away and takes off running, hoping and praying it is all a nightmare and that if she ran far enough then maybe, just maybe, she might escape its dark walls.
         "Come play with me!" The girl's voice is sweet serenity that only blood thirsty eyes reveal her true intent as Silence speeds through the bushes feeling only the pain Sean's death has caused.
         It's your fault he's dead.
         Silence can feel the rush of the wind cradling her in its chilly arms as she races through the maze of trees. Her steps are hard strikes against the moist floor of the woods. An icy blade of true, unadulterated fear is plunged deep within her heart. Sean's dead! Dead!
         Tears bloom at her eyes and blood slithers down her chest from a narrow slash on her throat. Pinpricks of light blind her for a moment as she stumbles on a slick rock in the rolling water.
         Collapsing on the sharp rocks jutting from the icy water her ribs burn with the pain of a deep gash Pushing herself back up, she blanches as her movements open the gash even more. Blood soaks the front of her white shirt, blotting the skull on it.
         Twigs snag at her bandaged arms some catching onto the cloth ripping it open, making them twist their way from around her arms.
         She rips her right one clean off as it snags on a branch and her left just clings to her in lazy loops.
         Body bruised and bloody, she's finally stopped by a form intercepting her.          Slamming into them as she peeks over her shoulder searching for her evil twin, she's too weak to do any more but scoot away from their glowing red eyes and wolfish smirk.
         He gave up his life for you. Now you must give up all you have: Your body, life, and soul; your freedom.